Winfield R-IV schedules final makeup days, discusses program reviews

Posted on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 9:10 am

Record breaking temperatures paired with snow and ice has left the Winfield School District in a pinch as they make new plans to make up the rest of the school year. At the most recent school board meeting held on Tuesday, Feb. 18, a plan, for this year only, to make up the teacher’s contracted days that have been missed was established. The plan is to now have teachers log their after school hours to total the amount of missed days (three, eight hour days). By doing this, the teachers will have their hours completed before summer school starts. For the 2014-2015 school year teachers will have to attend school during cold weather days to avoid the possibility of not having their total contracted hours met. This plan will take place after the first seven snow days are missed since those seven will already be scheduled to be made up during the regular calendar year. This year the student’s last day of school will now be May 30, and the teacher’s last day will be June 2.

In new business, program reviews were held for the A+, Literacy, Mo Options and Food Services programs. The A+ program has been revised by the state, giving more options to qualify. There are currently 166 students in the program at Winfield, which is 38 percent of the entire student body. Students are now allowed to use the A+ funds the summer immediately following their graduation, but not summers after if they choose to go to a four-year institution. Next year the high school will be giving a .5 elective credit for students that are in A+ to tutor.

The Literacy program review covered all the important aspects of their reading and writing curriculum. Each building is beginning to work on some future goals, like having a book room that will store books for the whole school, instead of just grade levels. This will help with the smooth transitions from grade level to grade level. These literacy teachers are also attending meetings which focus on the Missouri Reading Initiative in St. Clair, Mo. By attending these, the teachers are getting a new perspective on small group learning and how to begin this at all grade levels, K-12.

The Mo Options program review was presented to the board. Mo Options first began 13 years ago in the Winfield School District and has been growing ever since. Beginning this year there is a new test that students have to take to qualify for their diploma called HiSET (high school equivalency test). This test is now in place of the GED test. There are currently 17 individuals who are enrolled in the program this year.

Michelle Frillman, training director of Nutritional Services for Opaa! Food Management presented on the food services provided by Opaa! They are working on new options for students, such as having themed menus for the Olympics and March Madness. Opaa! continues to follow the DESE and USDA menu requirements of the Healthier US School Challenge. Opaa! Food Management, Inc requested that their Food Service Management agreement be extended one more year with the Winfield R-IV School District. This will be the fourth of the four extension renewal request allowed before another bid process is required. The extension was approved.

In the Superintendent report, Nancy Baker gave data on attendance. The overall attendance for the district last month was 97.13 percent. The bus inspections have been postponed to April due to snow days.

In the administrative reports, discipline has been down for all buildings and they all continue to work on the Common Core Standards. The primary and intermediate schools are currently working on their “I Can Statements”. The middle school sent several students to the Science Bowl on Feb. 22 at Washington University for the second year. The students were able to tour the campus while they were there. The high school had a FASFA night to learn the next step to enrolling into a college. The high school is also working hard to have better parent contact for students at risk.

Construction for the most part has been put on hold until the ground thaws. The Transportation building is now the district’s property and can be moved into, but still has a few minor finishes to be completed.

The calendar for the 2014-2015 school year was approved. The beginning date for teachers will be Aug. 11, with students returning to classes on Aug. 14.